Why does my cat's damp, red-brown skin smell like mushrooms?

Without an exam, it would be hard to say what is causing the issue. Parasites such as fleas can cause brown dots on the skin, that usually flake off or turn red when exposed to water. Allergies may cause irritation to the skin and can also cause scratching. Other issues such as skin infections or metabolic issues may also cause the skin to look irritated or changed colors as well. If Figaro seems bothered, the area becomes redder or changes rapidly, or other new symptoms appear, seeking vet care is best.

Poor Freckle! Without seeing a photo or completing a physical exam, it’s hard to know why this is happening. Pets can get red marks on the skin due to flea bites, environmental allergy, food allergy, contact allergy or hyperthyroidism. Red marks could also indicate bruising which is much more serious and significant. Bruising indicates platelet abnormalities and this can be fatal without treatment. Since you are noticing the issue is so widespread, I recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian today ideally. It’s always best to play it safe. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

The reddish color in the water comes from the flea poop (or "flea dirt", as it's often called). This looks like little black specks in the fur. The black specks are actually digested blood from the fleas, and will turn red in water. So this is nothing to worry about, just a normal part of having fleas. Once you get rid of the fleas, you should stop seeing the reddish color in the water :) I would suggest using a good quality monthly flea medication such as Stronghold or Advocate - you can get these from your vet. They're generally safer and much more effective than over-the-counter flea meds for cats.

Leo's skin could look like that for any of the reasons you listed and add skin mites to the list as well. The problem with skin conditions is that they all clinically look the same. Diagnostics or sometimes a response to treatment is the only way to know what is the underlying condition. For a young cat like Leo, fleas, skin mites or ringworm is more common but allergic reactions are not impossible. That lesion on his head looks pretty inflamed. if you don't see any obvious cause like fleas, I recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian. The veterinarian who will look for other clues on the physical exam to get a better idea what the underlying cause is. Ringworm and mites can be ruled out with some simple diagnostics and he can receive medication to heal the lesions. You may start an omega 3 fatty acid for cats as this can help with inflammation and skin health but it may not fix the problem. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am sorry to hear about Jack! I would be concerned these could be a bacterial or fungal infection of the skin, and possibly a condition in cats called eosinophilic plaques or eosinophilic granuloma syndrome, which can be incited due to an allergy and usually resolves with steroid treatment. I would recommend bringing Jack in to his vet for an examination of the area.

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat her with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advantage), then get her to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start her on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting her on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica).

Poor kitty! This sounds very uncomfortable for him. There are many different things that could cause a raw, red area of skin that becomes crusty or scabbed over. Your kitty may have allergies, fleas, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam when you are able to - he/she can do some simple skin tests if needed to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.